Articles of confederation and the constitution- the Adam’s/Jefferson administration

Articles of Confederation

It legally united the states into the “United States of America” as a union with a confederation government.

National Powers

• Could declare war

• Could make peace

• Sign treaties

• Borrow money

• Set standards in coinage

• Establish a postal service

• Deal with Natives Americans

Land Ordinance of 1785

Law passed that surveyed and divided the public land west of the Appalachians into lots that could be brought and sold

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Divided the land into territories

With 5,000 residents the territory could adopt a temporary constitution

With 60,000 residents the territory could write a state constitution and apply for statehood

Weaknesses of the Confederation

• Could not collect taxes

• Could not regulate trade

• Congress only got one vote from each state regardless of population

• 9 out of 13 states had to agree to pass laws

• Could not enforce laws passed

• No national court system

• No national unity

• Not able to make foreign relations

• The Articles could only be amended if all the states approved

Shay’s Rebellion

Armed uprising in Central and Western Massachusetts from 1786- 1787. Rebels led by Daniel Shays and known by Shaysites (poor farmers angered by crushing debt and taxes)

Constitutional Convention

55 delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia to discuss amending the articles. The delegates chose to scrap the entire document and created the US Constitution instead.

Compromises of the meeting

• New Jersey/Virginia Plan = Great Compromise

• Three-Fifth Compromise

• End the slave trade by 1807 (Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise)

• Three branches of government with checks and balances (Separation of Powers)

• Electoral college elects the President

• State legislatures elect Senators

• Federal judges appointed for life

• “Federalism”

New Jersey Plan

Designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress

Virginia Plan

Outlined a strong national government with three branches; legislative, executive, and judicial

Three-fifths compromise

Determined that three out of every five slaves were counted when determining a states total population for legislative representation and taxation

Constitution of the United States

The body of fundamental laws, set out principles, structures, and process of the American government

Federalists

American citizens who were the ratification of the Constitution. Upper coastal classes type of people

Anti-federalists

American citizen who were against the ratification of the Constitution. Poorer, western class people

The federalist papers

Collection of essays written by John Jay Madisons and Alexander Hamilton. Essays served as an important source for constitutional interpretation

George Washington

The first president, unanimously elected as president by the Electoral College in 1789

Secretary of State

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of the Treasury

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of War

Henry Knox

Attorney General

Edmund Randolph (added to cabinet after the creation of the judiciary act of 1789)

Bill of rights

First 10 amendments of the Constitution. Secure key rights for individuals and reserve to the states all power not explicitly delegated or prohibited by the Constitution.

Who drafted the bill of rights?

James Madison

What did Hamilton’s economic plan create?

A national bank (Bank of the United States)

Bank of the United States

Where businesses and citizens could invest into the economy and the nation could have a national currency

“Loose: Constructionism

A belief into how to interpret the Constitution that was promoted by Hamilton. He believed if the constitution didn’t forbid a practice, the national government had the right to preform the task.

“Strict” Constructionism

A belief into how to interpret the Constitution that was promoted by Jefferson. Jefferson believed that if the Constitution did not directly state a task, then that power was forbidden to the national government.

Whiskey Rebellion

It was a response to an excise tax on distilled spirits, which was enacted by the federal government under the administration of President George Washington and his Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton.

Neutrality Proclamation

Proclaimed America’s formal neutrality in the conflict between France and Great Britain

British impressment

British commanders seized about 250 American merchant ships and impressed (kidnapped) scores of seamen into their navy.

Federalists

Wanted a strong national government

Democratic- Republicans

They wanted a weaker central government that would preserve the sovereignty of the states

What did Washington’s Farewell Address warn us of?

1.) To stay neutral and avoid permanent alliances with other nations

2.) Spoke about the danger of forming political parties

What is the XYZ affair

Undeclared naval war against France

Alien Enemies Act

Authorized the jailing or deporting of those who were deemed spies

Alien friends act

Authorized the president to expel any foreign residents whose activities are considered dangerous

Naturalization Act

Increased the residency requirement of US citizenship from 5 to 14 years

Sedition Act

The law made anyone convicted of defaming government officials or interfering with government policies liable to imprisonment and heavy fines

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

opposed the federal Alien and Sedition Acts, which extended the powers of the federal government

What was popular about the election of 1800

The house had to decide who was the president

Judiciary act of 1801

Created 16 new federal judgeships along with other judicial officers and reduced the size of the Supreme Court to five.

Who is John Marshall

The chief of justice of the Supreme Court who witnessed the flaws of a weak central government during the Revolutionary war and became a Federalist for life

Marbury vs Madison

A Supreme Court case that officially gave the Supreme Court the final authority to determine the meaning of the Constitution. Became known as Judicial Review

Traditions of Washington’s Presidency

• Cabinet

• Two- terms

• “So help me God”

• Farewell Address

Results

• Made the image of what presidency is

Washington’s Presidency

Domestic Policy

• Hamiltons Economic Plan

Results

• Whiskey Rebellion

• Political Party

Washington’s Presidency

Foreign Policy

• French Revolution

• Impressment/ Forts

• Mississippi River

Results

• Neutrality Proclamation

• Jays Treaty

• Pinckney Treaty

• Create isolationism